“What’s Your Favorite?”

I suppose it’s something to do with human nature, but “What’s your favorite?” seems to be a question that I always encounter when discussing my hobbies, be it my toy trains or my roses. I usually answer with something on the order of “that’s like asking a father to choose a favorite child! I love them all!” But, at least as far as the roses are concerned, I have a confession to make. Wandering through the garden, taking photographs on a beautiful albeit cool and windy day, standing at Louise Odier and drinking in the intoxicating Old Rose perfume from the literally hundreds of blossoms on the bush, I came to the realization that this is my favorite rose. It’s a huge bush, it’s vigorous and healthy, it repeats reliably all throughout the season, and this first spring flush has to bring a smile to anyone no matter how down they might be. It asks for so little, water, a weekly spraying, and an occasional feeding, and gives so very much in return. Strange, that a rose that was bred in 1851 would be my favorite but there it is.